Daily roundup: Foster care, libraries, and child protection in the African community

Foster carers should be free to make basic decisions for children in their care, the children’s minister Edward Timpson has said. Speaking at the Fostering Network’s annual conference he said fostered children can struggle to have a “sense of normality” because they are constantly treated differently. “I want local leaders and managers to encourage their social workers to work with birth families, foster carers and children; to make sure foster carers are given the authority to make these day-to-day decisions that matter so much,” he said. The Fostering Network has meanwhile launched a book for professionals. Safer Caring advocates a shift from the current “risk-averse” culture, to an approach where day-to-day decisions are delegated to carers.

Children and young people are to be given automatic library membership as part of a trial scheme announced by government. The Arts Council will run 22 projects across the UK in an effort to get more young people and families using their local libraries. Culture minister Ed Vaizey said: “Joining a library at a young age is a fantastic route into a world of literature, entertainment and exploration and I very much look forward to seeing the results of these innovative library card pilots.”

Government has been called on to do more to address the over-representation of African children and families in the child protection system. The Afro News reports that members of the community and professionals made the call at a House of Commons event hosted by Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (Afruca) and former children’s minister Meg Hillier. Afruca warned that the removal of children was having a devastating impact on families and the African community.

Youth centres in a riot-affected area of London have been closed at least 26 times when they should have been open, it has been claimed. The Haringey Independent reports that centres were closed during periods they should be staffed and open to young people. Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on children and education, Katherine Reece, said: “This is very worrying. After the riots we were told that the council would be doing more for young people and helping by giving them more opportunities to use youth centres.”

Serious failings have been highlighted in the treatment a one-year-old girl who died following heart surgery. The BBC reports that Solihull coroner Aidan Cotter said medical staff at Birmingham Children’s Hospital did not accurately maintain some of Hayley Fullerton’s medical charts. The baby died at the hospital in November 2009, days after being transferred from intensive care to a general ward. Cotter said that although the failing was serious, it did not constitute a gross failing or neglect.

And finally, the former head of the Family Planning Association has been appointed as chief executive of Girlguiding UK. Julie Bentley has said her first priority is to grow guiding’s membership so that more girls can benefit. She will also oversee a review of the programme the movement offers. She said: “I am incredibly proud to be joining an organisation dedicated to supporting girls become confident, happy, successful people who realise their ambitions and contribute positively to the world around them. As guiding looks forward to its next 100 years, I would like that opportunity to be available to even more girls – from an even wider range of backgrounds and communities.”